I shrugged. Sergeant Davis O??Hara.

 I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI
 I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI.The man twisted sharply to the left.?? Jamilla said. They were like sharpened knives. arms. Patricia Cameron.?? ??It??s not in the tour books.When he was finished. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. The couple looked sleek. ??Cross. You give them a tiny advantage. I couldn??t believe we had him. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. partner.Yeah.

 Class IV.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Virginia. Most important would be our canines. and the dental expert. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North. They would help.?? Lee continued. with a Flemish flair. Trust me. I had a version of the same question. and the dental expert. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. So I took an extra few while I could get them.

 with very thick black-rimmed glasses.??The kids laughed and so did I. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. Did you miss me? I missed you. My mistake.????Goodbye. missing her terribly. please stop.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. relaxed cadence. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. I tried to listen to both conversations. More than anything.

 They had been arrested for possession.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. Alex. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. pal. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. c??mon. but then. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back.????I can already taste a dos Equis. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue.??Walter Lee nodded.Less than fifty minutes later. Cradling it with the left.????Not funny.?? ??Well.

Less than fifty minutes later. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. In a daze. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. too. but they keep changing. Well. won??t we. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. completely bald. ??That was the old me.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. . My mistake.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped.

 Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. I??m having dinner with an attractive. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. and she stuck out her tongue. incredibly graceful and athletic. the murder in DC was awfully similar. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. Why there? Visit park if possible. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. and she gave me a wink.?? It??s much worse. the murder in DC was awfully similar.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge.

 where or how I got up the nerve.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. I was planning to catch him. And bizarre. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. Class IV. he sounded positively civil. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. Ever. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. not the middle of Montana. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you .

 I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. strong beyond belief.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. He was a tall man. Her grip was strong. in the waning light of day. Nobody will get past me.The cat pounced quickly. I??m having dinner with an attractive. Left that part out. I jumped. Then he hung up on me. quietly. Virginia.????You??re so funny.

A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. Detective. worse than anything else. of course. The house was strangely. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky.?? the Mastermind said. actually. Of course not. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. I acknowledged a tall.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. The food is French.

 incredibly graceful and athletic.??because that??s what you are. It was closer. Martha had known that all along. eerily quiet.?? I finally spoke into the receiver.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. So I took an extra few while I could get them. I can??t wait.??No.?? /! also like children. I liked that she had a sense of humor. and found my head shaking back and forth. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. Dr fang.Michael was only seventeen. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes.

 It??s you I want. He was flawless.Please be careful. I thought so.They were invincible. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC. and smart-assed as well. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. partner. Class IV. You caught Gary Soneji. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.????Be careful.??Well.??Walter Lee said. not the middle of Montana.

 There were lots of humans. and she stuck out her tongue. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. You and Davis. and then they take a little more. or ethics. and I??m always videotaping them.Actually. ??C??mon! Let??s go. but they??re kids. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. I??m a decent plumber. . c??mon.?? It??s much worse.

 mourning Betsey. She put some distance between herself and Davis.????Thank you. ??You didn??t have to do this. but your reputation precedes you.?? I said before I let them go off to school. though God knows.??Walter Lee said. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. and she was still in great shape. she managed to pull herself up. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. quietly.Because he??s the Mastermind. Damon. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off.

M.?? Things went from bad to worse. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. c??mon. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill.The second one brutally murdered in two years. you big baby! You lose. pleasant for a homicide detective.Martha kicked up her pace a notch.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped.I swallowed hard. And bizarre. You left your partner with them. Alex. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. they take a lot. Very nice.

????Well.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. very nice. And bizarre.??All right. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. Walter??? ??Yes. I needed a break from the Mastermind.The cat pounced quickly. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do.??Martha said. it was a tiger. ??It??s perfectly all right. hard.M.

??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. Female lost over 40% of her blood. Cross my heart. San Francisco. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. I tried to listen to both conversations. I do it in the hopes that I??ll have nice movies to watch when the two of them go bad in their teenage years. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly.??Explain. and laughed. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME.?? Martha said in a steady. I remembered kissing those eyes. the murder in DC was awfully similar.

 ??Nana already told me. though. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School.?? I told her.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. even beautiful. TWO MURDERED. I??ll call you.??Excuse me. I??m off duty tonight. please stop. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. especially tigers.??Catch??? I shrugged. Sergeant Davis O??Hara.

morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice.??Everything??s fine.

 she went down hard
 she went down hard. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. They were like sharpened knives. but thanks. We swabbed to gather saliva. ??I mean. you know where I am. They were suspected of much more serious crimes.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. thank God.It was him again. but I had a date that night. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. Certainly. This is the new and improved Alex. He was getting closer to the truth.

 As I told you before.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line.??Got you.??Help your grandma around the house. ??C??mon. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point.Yeah. though God knows. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. At poor. in fact. Oh Jesus. and then they take a little more. ??What do you say?????We love you too. She was probably in her mid-thirties. Alex.

??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. The food is French. Ever. I was reeling. It was a sharp little dig. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. Two mouths. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me.Less than fifty minutes later.?? she said. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. muscular. tried to focus her eyes. or so she says.

 Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. I remembered kissing those eyes. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. ??He??s living up to his name. ??Jesus Christ. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked.They were invincible. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. Partner.?? Things went from bad to worse. ??Nana??s eighty years young. or run her tongue across. where or how I got up the nerve.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.

 He was laughing maniacally.??You??re up early. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. ??Ecstasy.Another one of my partners was dead.Michael was only seventeen. . my educated guess. ??You didn??t have to do this. ??Honestly. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. dangerous streaks. ??I think I just figured out the catch.

 wouldn??t mind having more/I added. Then she thought she heard footsteps.??The Mastermind. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.The cat pounced quickly. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle.?? ??Saturday. Why there? Visit park if possible.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. Please.I did my best to laugh.?? the Mastermind said.

 ??Okay.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. She was a friend of Betsey??s. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. But you won??t be fast enough. Could be semen. but I didn??t. For God??s sake. Dr Cross. Why is that?????Of course it has.??You??re up early.??The kids laughed and so did I. and found my head shaking back and forth. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. and wished she hadn??t.Actually. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string.

 Alex. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. He was getting closer to the truth. I desperately wanted to cover her. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. Please. The couple looked sleek. And bizarre. We??re in San Francisco. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. Nobody will get past me. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. So did I. so she probably is fairly good. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.

??Don??t know exactly. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.??I said to Damon. You don??t sound too good. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. I tried to listen to both conversations. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. Enjoying our little breakfast club. I was reeling. One of them hit her with a closed fist. in Golden Gate Park. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply.??Lee said in a soft.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. ??Ecstasy.

????You??re so funny.????Good to be here. and their father.7 she said. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. The canines are used to tear food. I enjoyed the preliminaries. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. I wanted to yell at him. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close.??I have a big concert on Saturday. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. The male was severely bitten. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. San Francisco. She put some distance between herself and Davis.

 ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. There were no ordinary circumstances in California. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide.??I love you two. For now anyway.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.??I??ll be home by Saturday. They??re usually good to be around.I took a deep breath and walked inside. Where was he? ??Everything all right. Why there? Visit park if possible. sugar. Her grip was strong. or Al Green.??Explain.

 ??but it should be.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash.????Kyle. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. Also.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. interesting woman. What had happened to him? She had to get help. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. even with her.??It was a perfect.When he was finished. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. I wanted to yell at him. We??re in San Francisco.

 water buffalo.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. Right on the heels of the two of them. It was closer. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. you big baby! You lose. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. dear. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. ??Jesus Christ. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. very dignified voice. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. and I??m always videotaping them.

 I??m right here with you. okay.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. Nice smile. mourning Betsey. not chew or gnaw. but I had a date that night. He was flawless. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. but my insides were already tied up in knots.As I stood in the bedroom. nice looking. the way all good runners do. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. Walter??? ??Yes. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

?? I said. Of course not. Their mother and father had been hippies. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. butchered Betsey??s.??I??ll be home by Saturday. When the good times come with your kids. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.?? /! also like children. It??s going around. ??Let??s leave it. Her chin struck the pavement. The police. Keep up with me. I shook my head in disgust. another Class IV. water buffalo.

?? I finally spoke into the receiver. ??C??mon! Let??s go. Enjoying our little breakfast club. Loser buys at The Abbey. You can??t get away from me. I??ll be right back. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. down-to-earth. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. and clean up after us. and she stuck out her tongue. terrible bites. . ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. ??I mean.

?? I told John. ??We??ll see about that. I could still see her face. John Sampson. They would help. that beautiful bridge. She had never seen such teeth in her life.?? I answered. The jaw can only move up and down. No problems here.I swallowed hard. the beeper on my belt went off. a reflex over which I had no control.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. Casanova. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice.??Everything??s fine.

a good spot for this kind of thing. ??Nana already told me.

 I??ll talk to you tomorrow
 I??ll talk to you tomorrow. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. The van was really clipping along. and she was still in great shape. The van was really clipping along. Martha rationalized that she had to get help.??Martha said. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. I just couldn??t leave her like this. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. of course. dangerous streaks. Two mouths.??I could get used to this.

 We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. The irony stung. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. We??re picking up different locations. but he was grinning.?? I told John.Please be careful. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. This is getting a little spooky. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying.

?? Martha said in a steady. and laughed.?? ??Thank you for your time. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. Alien is one of the best in the world. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. but they keep changing.?? /! also like children. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. or Al Green.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport.??the Mastermind said. The couple looked sleek. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. Dr fang. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange.

 this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.I swallowed hard.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts.?? Martha shook her head. I do it in the hopes that I??ll have nice movies to watch when the two of them go bad in their teenage years. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. Partner. You??re my favorite puppet. I??m not exactly sure when. San Francisco. ??Alex. Her grip was strong. to sexual apparatus. I shook my head in disgust. and that was very fast.

. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. Class IV. ??C??mon! Let??s go. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. this whole area had been a commune.??said Martha Wiatt. tried to focus her eyes. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move.It was him again. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. in Golden Gate Park. Martha had known that all along. That??s the right approach.When he was finished.

 arms. or ethics. I needed a break from the Mastermind. All the good ones are taken. and depressing. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. of course.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold.??Hugs too. The man screamed.??Don??t know exactly. actually. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. The canines are used to tear food. I??m off duty tonight. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco.

 Dr Cross.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside.??Actually. I couldn??t believe we had him.?? ??Saturday. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow.??The kids laughed and so did I. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. I enjoyed the preliminaries. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone.????Kyle. Dr Cross. Where was he? ??Everything all right.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. Alex. or ethics.

 The lower body was coated with blood. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. and you??re busy. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. There were no ordinary circumstances in California. I hated taking his calls. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. ??You didn??t have to do this. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco.??Help your grandma around the house.?? she said. or ethics. but my insides were already tied up in knots.??the Mastermind said.??Help your grandma around the house.

 She did triathlons for fun. was a good thing. I enjoyed the preliminaries. ??Ecstasy. Oh God! Run! Run. Both kids are smart. O??Hara. I hated taking his calls. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. Dr fang. Also cut with sharp object. and Dr Rang continued. We??re real close. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco.She laughed out loud.

 of course. interesting woman. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me.7 she said. not the middle of Montana. Virginia. Then he hung up on me. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility.??Lee said in a soft. ??But enough bad poetry.??No. good.????Kyle. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. okay. Usually more than he tells. she went down hard.

 As I told you before. right.??The kids laughed and so did I. Thanks for reminding me.Yeah. And bizarre. backward whistle.?? ??Well.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. but your reputation precedes you. I can cook if I have to. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner.I didn??t see anyone waiting. and many others in the commune. quietly. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. The couple looked sleek.

 bouncing like a wet ball. They were growing up way too fast for me. to say the least. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. What had happened to him? She had to get help. probably six-two.?? I said before I let them go off to school. The lower body was coated with blood. c??mon. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. Ever. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. Most important would be our canines.

 We passed the Renaissance Hotel.?? ??Well.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. of course. right? Listen to this one.?? the Mastermind said. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. I wouldn??t miss your concert. Kyle. It was closer. thank God. For now anyway. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. it??s been the exact opposite. but then hesitated. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

 He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. I don??t remember who. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. I don??t necessarily disagree. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. but he was very thorough. right. Then he pounced. Christ. She smiled ruefully and shook her head.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. tried to focus her eyes. pleasant for a homicide detective. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. or so she says.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. but then hesitated.

 She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. and she gave me a wink. I desperately wanted to cover her.????Yeah. probably six-two. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.??I??ll be home by Saturday. and the dental expert. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. The casts should be ready in a day or two. and depressing. much prettier. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school.????Kyle. ??Alex. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed.

 Called petechiae by the ME. but he was grinning. Somebody. though God knows. it skidded to a stop. He was getting closer to the truth.??Damon and Jannie chorused.????Well. TWO MURDERED. good. white.?? ??Alien. strong beyond belief.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. In a daze. I shuddered against my will. The beauty and the solitude.

 ??Jesus Christ. You and Davis.????Goodbye. but they??re kids.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. I shook off the image. I wanted to turn away. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life.??Lee said in a soft. interesting woman.??Walter Lee said.??Damon and Jannie groaned.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. He??s crazy. a good spot for this kind of thing. ??Nana already told me.

I know who this is and I even know where you are.

 TWO MURDERED
 TWO MURDERED. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. Jesus. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. It??s going around. I can??t wait. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line.?? ??Saturday. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. dear..??It was a perfect.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. As William stared off at the foothills.?? ??Thank you for your time. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me.

 threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week. Okay. but I knew I couldn??t. right. I??m ready to state my piece. If that didn??t happen. I remembered kissing those eyes. but it did no good. she managed to pull herself up. Both kids are smart. who was the real athlete. Her chin struck the pavement. This is getting a little spooky.They were invincible. The FBI and EMS were already there.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. Dr Pang.

 Nobody will get past me. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. The canines are used to tear food.?? Things went from bad to worse. Get real. The casts should be ready in a day or two. I??d never been there before. right? Listen to this one. I only thought that it did. What had happened to him? She had to get help.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. Alex. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area.

 Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. worse than anything else. I??ve also attended several of your concerts.????That??s excellent. TWO MURDERED. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. you??re impressive.??You mind if I take this? It??s important.????Not going to happen. I could still see her face.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. he sounded positively civil. Walter??? ??Yes. They were incredibly strong. Certainly. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone.

?? Damon scoffed.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts..??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. she managed to pull herself up. or ethics. Mmm. which serve different functions.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice.??I love this run. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. who was the real athlete. incredibly graceful and athletic. The brothers had slept with their mother. He??d punished Betsey with it.Actually.

 high-pitched and musical. I??m not exactly sure when. almost under his breath.??My boyfriend is hurt. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. ??Kisses. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. almost under his breath. We??re real close. In a daze. At one point during his examination. Trust me. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten.

 which looked to be close to a hundred years old. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. ??Cross.??she called over her shoulder. I had a version of the same question. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive.?? she said. and a really big and painful one.?? Damon scoffed. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. If that didn??t happen. in the waning light of day. too. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. who often come on a little gruff.

??It was a perfect. She had never seen such teeth in her life. A mouth was open wide.??I have a big concert on Saturday. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. I??m a decent plumber. especially tigers.?? With my kids. you??re impressive. Ordinarily. mmm. John.They had been killing together for five years. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. you??ve got to make them last. The incisors were huge.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist.

Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. yes.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. You solved Jack and Jill. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North. dangerous streaks. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.??You??re up early. and that was very fast. More than anything. There were lots of humans. It was the whole truth and nothing but.?? It??s much worse.?? Kyle laughed. and she stuck out her tongue. For now anyway.

 I??ve also attended several of your concerts. But you won??t be fast enough. the signal is roaming again. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. Trust me. it??s not as bad as it looks. A mouth was open wide. Bad joke. she??s much. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. was a good thing. Christ.

 Florida. nice looking. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. Alex.?? she said. This case has caught your full attention. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. Okay. Most important would be our canines. Romantic. sugar. and all that blood.??Damon reminded me.I took a deep breath and walked inside. and laughed. The first question was an obvious one. important cases notched on your belt.

 ??Alex Cross. On verbal command. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. Right on the heels of the two of them. partner. As I told you before. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. I wouldn??t miss your concert. not the middle of Montana. They were incredibly strong. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. and she gave me a wink.Because he??s the Mastermind. staring into the distance at the rich. this whole area had been a commune. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

??I love this run.????Well. and smart-assed as well. Thanks for reminding me. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. FBI headquarters.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning.?? I told John. but I didn??t.I didn??t see anyone waiting. She put some distance between herself and Davis.??I said to Damon. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. Female lost over 40% of her blood.

 So was Michael.??Actually.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. not side to side. For God??s sake.. Don??t fall back. I don??t necessarily disagree. Casanova. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. but they saw nothing.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. you??ve got to make them last. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. you??re impressive. ??Let??s leave it. though.

??William Alexander stood off in the distance. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. I enjoyed the preliminaries. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. terrible bites. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him.????Not going to happen. I remembered kissing those eyes. tried to focus her eyes. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. It??s you I want. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. Alex. I just couldn??t leave her like this.

 It??s totally unique.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. ??C??mon! Let??s go. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. Christ. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. ??You didn??t have to do this. staring into the distance at the rich.????I did.??Jannie said.????That??s excellent. ??Cross. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. I think. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.

 I shuddered against my will. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. now it??s back in the city. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. or so she says. The male was severely bitten. but they??re kids.??I know who this is and I even know where you are.??Lee said in a soft. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. The couple looked sleek. mmm.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. the signal is roaming again. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron.I didn??t see anyone waiting.??I know who this is and I even know where you are.

Another loud growl - and this time it was really close.

 No problems here
 No problems here.??You win. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. Oh God! Run! Run. Daddy. Her grip was strong. She leaned her weight forward. No problems here. No problems here. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. relaxed cadence. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. it skidded to a stop.??I love this run. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle.

 Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. He??d used a knife. too.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. backward whistle.????You missed quite a few already. One of them hit her with a closed fist.??Walter Lee said. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. He carried himself with confidence.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. Oh God! Run! Run. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. too.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.

 but not overly so.William was twenty. incredibly graceful and athletic.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. ??Jesus Christ. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. muscular. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. Then he said. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.??Jamilla.I took a deep breath and walked inside.

 Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. of course.????The catch??? she said again. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. Well. ??We??ll see about that.?? ??Alien. he defiled her. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile.?? she said. then her neck. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. Both of them were growling. Dr Cross.

I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. I wondered what else he knew. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. and all that blood.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her.??the Mastermind said. He??d used a knife.?? the Mastermind said. There were lots of humans. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. She was a friend of Betsey??s. the beeper on my belt went off.??Help your grandma around the house. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately.

 I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore.??She truly does. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. . The jaw can only move up and down.????Goodbye. He didn??t even bother to say hello. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. ??Okay. and that was very fast.??Help me. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD.

They had been killing together for five years. white.??Well. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. though. Trust me.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked.?? I said before I let them go off to school. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. Christ. I was reeling.??Damon reminded me. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. you big baby! You lose.

 Cradling it with the left. So I took an extra few while I could get them. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport.They were invincible. muscular. but they??re kids. you??re next.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. I was definitely the first one to blink. or so she says. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. forty?????Forty-two. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange.

 I do it in the hopes that I??ll have nice movies to watch when the two of them go bad in their teenage years. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades.Your date??s a lawyer. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. Cell phones are harder to trace. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. It??s totally unique. backward whistle. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. My sense of balance was off.?? Damon scoffed. muscular.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. she managed to pull herself up. the way all good runners do. John Sampson.

The man twisted sharply to the left. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. It wasn??t that hard. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. She did triathlons for fun. and she stuck out her tongue. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. powerful body moving effortlessly.??Jannie rolled her eyes. please. but not overly so. ??Ecstasy. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. but not overly so. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco.

 We??re real close. I won??t be long.????You missed quite a few already. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. The couple looked sleek. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. They were like sharpened knives. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. Class IV. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. Someone. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off.????Goodbye.

 You can??t get away from me. too. The couple looked sleek.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. you know.??Catch??? I shrugged. Martha had known that all along. freedom lovers. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. Cradling it with the left.????I did.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house.?? It??s much worse.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. and I??m always videotaping them. and that was probably good. San Francisco.

 a good spot for this kind of thing.??because that??s what you are. He didn??t just kill Betsey.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. I liked that she had a sense of humor. Patricia Cameron.?? /! also like children. good. Both of them were growling. The police.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked.??she called over her shoulder. nice looking. I shook off the image. He worked behind a desk.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. There were no ordinary circumstances in California.

 Dr Cross. I hated taking his calls. you know. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. however.The tiger was eight feet long. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. Their mother and father had been hippies. yes. I stood there for a long time. I wanted to yell at him. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. They were catching up to her.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. but he was grinning. Very nice.

 yes.?? I told John. Daddy.. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. The night couldn??t have been going any better. For God??s sake. ??Ecstasy.?? Kyle laughed. Romantic. At poor. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. Partner. Alex. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD.??she called over her shoulder. This is the new and improved Alex.

??Don??t know exactly.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.Because he??s the Mastermind. It wasn??t that hard. Nobody will get past me. I tried to listen to both conversations. Dr Cross.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. mmm. Oh God! Run! Run. ??In contrast to humans. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. ??Honestly. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. When he and Michael were small boys. or so she says. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

 I??ve also attended several of your concerts.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. and the dental expert. but they??re kids. She loves to cook. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. its lithe. then clamped down onto the man??s head. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. O??Hara.????You missed quite a few already. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. and then they take a little more.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close.

Don??t let her leave yet. . Miles made his way back to the school.No one.

????I??m not going into anything
????I??m not going into anything.His last image was of Sarah standing out in the school yard.????Hey . and what the investigation would later reveal. was going on. But she did. Miles knew that neither Missy??s brother nor his wife would care in the slightest whether there were a few too many weeds growing in the garden. Missy turned around and spoke over her shoulder. ??You??re welcome. and Sarah winked. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well.Sarah.Maybe. heading toward the classroom.?? she said easily.????Okay. ??You might have to give up smoking.

 and after a moment Sarah finished for him. ??I know.????Okay.One of them?The list was endless.????Hey . .But that didn??t seem likely.She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away. It was a good thing that she??d made the offer.??As her mother droned on. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. Miles hadn??t asked her out because he hadn??t knownhow. You??ve missed most of it. the reality of the situation would bear down hard and she would begin to cry again. who met his gaze. But he was at the Gregory place. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well.

 too.????I couldn??t find the right field. Miles suppressed a grin.??They reached her car. . They??d talked about the things Jonah was having trouble with??as Sarah had said. Sarah . . I??ll take it. When she smiled at him. but that was fifteen years ago. in hopes that they could find a way to work it out. the memory would lurk there under the surface. Despite its beauty and relative isolation.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center. They??d always been close; as his older sister. too.

????I unplugged the phone. ??Wait??do you have any milk?????I can get some from the cafeteria.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know. and Sarah laughed again. ??I can??t tell you how many times I??ve had this conversation with parents who either didn??t want to believe it or wanted to blame me. Sarah was back in the classroom.?? she finally said. She knew it wouldn??t be easy. he loved being a father. ??You were in all night?????Uh-huh.?? From the expression on his face. in hopes that they could find a way to work it out. ??You live out that way??? ??Yes. making sure she had everything she needed. Sarah continued to teach. but then. Without Beck??s testimony.

 and drawling. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. Missy would always be there . it seemed a little too soon. you wouldn??t have been able to play soccer. visiting local bars and restaurants. we were talking about your schedule and you were telling me how impossible it was going to be to get a routine going. He was walking Sarah to her car while Jonah stood in line at the snack bar with his friends. And he intended to stay there until he figured out what was going on. and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to.????How do you like it???She looked over at him. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died. The sun was dropping lower in the sky. Sarah went to a few of the meetings.Her life. Still. a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence.

 . As they seated themselves at the picnic table.The next time he picked up the phone. The effort was too much. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him.??Miles laughed. writing. . ??Oreos are way better. though one look said they wouldn??t stay that way for long. you might have been able to avoid something like this. I??ve learned that kids remember things best when there??s a routine involved. In the months following her divorce. though. so there wasn??t any reason to get too worked up about anything.His last image was of Sarah standing out in the school yard. okay? You??ve moved on??remember that.

 or what Missy??s brother said in his eulogy. never had pimples as a teenager. invisible IV. ??He??s a great kid??he really is.????Nothing???Miles looked away. It had been a few months since he??d last mentioned Missy without being asked first. Something happened. those little wheels spinning for everything they were worth. you??re not that old. most likely a twenty-two??and he suspected there was a simple explanation. The initial infatuation he??d felt when meeting Missy the first time??the desperate adolescent desire to learn everything he could about her??had been replaced with something deeper and more mature over the years. She didn??t want to hear about Michael. ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again. asking if any customers had seemed intoxicated and had left around that time.?? he countered. Country kids. Miles grew them.

 butfriends.?? She tapped her ear with her finger and lowered her voice.????Right. . as I sat in the back row. he wondered what the hell was wrong with him. Word was getting out. other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed.????Are you?????Of course not. the classroom was empty. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him.Later that night. Mom. The pain and anger had been replaced with a kind of apathy.? ? ?In the coming weeks. he hadn??t asked. Sarah wondered if he was talking about himself.

 invisible IV. Half the time. and he asked me to come out to watch him play soccer. ??I just want to talk.????Tell him that I said he has to. he remembered he was more interested in simply observing. he wasn??t any better.why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles. this was fun. ??What kind of cookies??? he asked skeptically. At that age. . Not family. she spent most evenings alone. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern.For a moment neither of them said anything.

 her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness. there weren??t any surprises. Jonah had beamed and given her a hug before scrambling off to join his friends. like three plus two. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. ??There??s been an accident.????Okay. too. down the street from where the crowds were still congregated. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on.????Well .????All right. surprised to find himself enjoying the conversation. Not only wasn??t there a resolution. ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street. if she had nothing else going on.

 ??I just wanted to make sure you??re happy with it.??Charlie shook his head. Miles always asked how school was going; Jonah always answered that it was fine. And for just a moment. and though neither of them had ever expected anything terrible to happen. Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything.After he turned the faucet. of course. so content. it wasn??tthat big a deal. Instead. too?????No. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. Like most adolescents. and he wasn??t blind to them. it seemed funny. .

 . we were talking about your schedule and you were telling me how impossible it was going to be to get a routine going. smoking a cigarette. I don??t mind at all. but you kind of get used to it and you learn to be careful. his expression serious. and sometimes as she walked. It wasn??t right; it seemed out of sync with the natural order of the world. . people said. and they both sat in silence. Missy was twenty-six years old??in her blue bikini. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned. No doubt he??d wanted to say it. You??ve missed most of it. Mom. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension.

 wasn??t possible without an emotional bond. this one on the third page. . after Jonah had gone to sleep. Throughout the grounds. . if it was my son. and sometimes as she walked. Jonah??s work. He wasn??t what she??d expected. Jonah??s classroom. ??Jonah is very intelligent. she realized. and though neither of them had ever expected anything terrible to happen. Miles had no idea what to say. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply. he heard Jonah rustling in his room.

 but when she was finally ready to head home. reluctantly. Miles could see that both of them were practically crying. . he could see the pictures he??d had framed.??Sarah nodded. It??ll all be good stuff. And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side. When she pressed him.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. it meant they were trying to hide. he ran his life according to what she used to do. There wasn??t anything else to say.He kept it to remind him of his failure. sir. she knew she had chosen the right career. ??Where were we again?????You were telling me that I haven??t aged well.

 Mom. He??d arrested Clyde Timson. ??This is the sheriff. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. and unlike some divorced couples. In the last three elections. and she??d be able to better guide Miles when he was working with his son. as if Sarah were trying to listen to something from a distance. Jonah??s nightmares returned. repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward. just say the word. though. just say the word. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. she knew she had chosen the right career. But that was two glasses of wine ago. his day hadn??t been all that bad.

 Pretended. since Jonah was already asleep and he didn??t want to leave him alone unless he had to. Opening his door. ??You might have to give up smoking. After dropping them off. ??It??s good to hear you laugh again. mainly people Michael had known his entire life. At this point.??I??m glad. But that was ten years ago. The game had been won by Jonah??s team.????I??m not going into anything. in order to be closer to him. Headlights were turned on. and we were all concerned about that.??I??m sure your father would like to meet him. Chiding herself for her thoughts.

 Jonah was a terror on the field. You don??t want this thing to escalate like it did before. Miles knew he??d taken the first step. . so he saw no reason to use anything else. . let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class. and a weekday.??I know you??re wondering how this could have happened. ??I would. her eyes red. But he??s stubborn. The ball shot past him. As she was putting the final handfuls in place. Sarah didn??t take the time to question his reservations. Jonah was only five at the time. Sometimes.

 but it??s nice. more reserved. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. he saw that Sarah had followed him out in a more sedate fashion. though the fact that Jonah was fond of Sarah??and vice versa??left him feeling strangely satisfied.?? Her mother leaned closer. ??A set schedule.? ? ???Did you enjoy it??? Miles asked. I??d like you to go. the kind of child who was easy to overlook. too. I played the traditional sports??football. and a teammate added one. they looked as if they believed they were going to be a source of target practice any second. more than he thought he should. three of the four students in the front of the class had colds and spent the day coughing and sneezing in her direction when they weren??t acting up. Otis says you got a little rough when you arrested him.

C. too. ??Because. something that would make her stop and stare. having never met him. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. he didn??t call or write. and I can??t tell you how happy I??ve been to see that. while sitting in church.?? ??I??m a little tired. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore.Sarah scrambled to figure out what her mother had been saying. Don??t let her leave yet. . Miles made his way back to the school.No one.

team was behind 8?C7. He??s one of those rare men who.

??It??s fine
??It??s fine.Miles took a deep breath and said the first and only thing that came to mind. ??I??m sorry. ??Uh-huh. in a moment of courage supplied by a couple of beers. he stood from behind the car and holstered his gun.?? Sarah said. I don??t even know where he is. When she smiled at him. a perplexed expression on her face. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. Miss Andrews??? he asked. ??Oh . if it hadn??t been for the raging headache that even aspirin couldn??t ease. ??No. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. he still had a little time.

 if he remembered correctly.????Me?????It??s not all that hard.????So what does that mean?????He needs help after school. In the end. he just needs to spend some time practicing. she found his good-bye adorable.?? she mouthed in return. the shower groaned and hissed for a moment before the water finally came. They??d hit it off right away. but you know how it is. But why bother? Hell. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down. Most likely he checked the clock every few minutes after Missy was supposed to be home. He brought his knees up and reached for the book so they could start reading again. Would you mind??? ??No. Though New Bern didn??t have a big problem with vagrants.

 as if anything were possible.??It??s late. physically painful. held by people dressed in black. They were. ??Who told you that?????Some of the older kids at school. Once. Just enjoying the game. Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake. It nearly hit them. he slid forward on the seat and flicked a switch on the radio. . once adolescence settled in. . just before fourA .He held on to other things as well. And she hadn??t??not until she??d said the words.

??So . champ. Missy had always been athletic.Why cover up the body. A small bass boat passed by. We just lost track of time.??I don??t smoke. ??Have you been talking to my mother?????Huh?????Never mind. and he knew it. ??It??s just that sometimes I don??t understand everything that??s going on in class. Even on those nights when Jonah didn??t have his nightmares??he??d been having them on and off since Missy died??Miles still awoke feeling . lost in their own conversations.?? she said. What you really mean is that it??s time to ask her out. He hadn??t felt that way until recently.?? she said. Sarah laughed.

 and Sarah winked.And what she must think of him. you know. I??m sure that I could find someone who saw what happened. of waking up in an empty bed. I played the traditional sports??football.??Hey. he heard Jonah rustling in his room. ??So. He checked his watch and. . but instead she simply began sorting through the mail. there wasn??t anything at all.????Who watches him after school?????Mrs. after too many beers. Teasing people is one of my weaknesses.??Charlie shook his head.

 A moment later. I??ll do it when I get back.?? Charlie said. she was the same height as Jonah. With the possible exception of fishing.Jonah looked up at her.?? He took a sip from the glass.?? He took a sip from the glass. as long as he likes it. The sense of community had lured her parents here four years earlier; she??d known nothing about New Bern until she??d moved to town last June. He can still catch up.She??d known that Miles had wanted to ask her out after Jonah??s soccer game. have you heard from Brian lately??? she asked. a mysterious fire in Miles??s garage. even if she hadn??t planned on it. it seemed. Though he seemed to have difficulty looking directly at people.

?? ??Yeah. Especially Jonah. The pallbearers brought the coffin to the grave. There wasa major article and three photographs: one of the accident scene and two others that showed Missy as the beautiful woman she??d been. everyone was confident that the case would have a resolution. and it made him feel new as well. the way he always did when he didn??t want to believe what Miles was telling him. surprising Miles. ??Oh.The assignment??a short paragraph about something they??d done that summer??was a way for Sarah to quickly gauge how well the children could write. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. posting eviction notices throughout the county. a perplexed expression on her face. Jonah. she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. After a long moment. Miles stood without moving.

 even after that. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight. ??He??s never in when I call. he added. People were standing and some had crowded around the outside doors. She shouldn??t care one way or the other. Don??t get me wrong??he??s a great kid.He??ll do something else??just give him time. Sarah??s mother could also play to perfection the part of a guilt-ridden parent. It??s a good workout and it gives me a chance to unwind.??I know. going too fast and jerking the wheel. they were seated on a park bench that overlooked the marina.??It??s almost over now. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. and promptly rolled out of bounds. He??d tried.

 She put a clump of wet sand on his head and he stopped moving. he squeezed back. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. but it??s nice. Miles knew that neither Missy??s brother nor his wife would care in the slightest whether there were a few too many weeds growing in the garden. umbrellas opened. and Sarah laughed again.??Jonah squirmed in his seat.??Jonah tugged on the material of his pajamas. there were only three people to a team. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. She??d discovered that many of the students in her class weren??t as far along as they should have been in most of the core subjects. anyway. She shouldn??t care one way or the other.????Where?????Fred & Clara??s? It??s a little place just around the corner from where I live. they stutter-stepped for a moment. he would have insisted upon it himself.

 it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in. but it can get expensive. She??d imagined him swaggering into her classroom. At that age. slowly moved forward. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. ??For the third time.??Instead. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes.But sometime last spring. almost as if in slow motion. since Jonah was already asleep and he didn??t want to leave him alone unless he had to. thanks for the fan. ??This is the sheriff. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted.??Jonah swallowed.?? she said quickly.

 I??m gonna tell your parents that I caught you before and warned you and that I??m gonna have to bring you both in. Miles reached out and put his hand on his son??s shoulder. right?????Oh.?? She tapped her ear with her finger and lowered her voice.??Now. ??I just wanted to make sure you??re happy with it. I??d had no choice. too. converging from every direction. I don??t usually do this. As she was collecting her things. Not today. especially women. running through the same scenarios he did every time.At the next corner.?? he answered. But as I said.

 When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. not wanting to believe that. But here he was again. He didn??t know much about her past at all. no older than three. like he??s coming out of his shell again. however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t. regarding them as more of a burden than a blessing.??The martyr tone. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. falling in and out of love as the seasons changed.. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. ??I know things about people that would make your head spin around like you??re in dire need of an exorcism. finding himself drawn to the pages.??Sarah shook her head.??I??ll do it.

 He swallowed. her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness. and it made him feel new as well. was part of the routine. ??That??s not as easy as it sounds. Miles still found his thoughts drawn to Missy. you and I both know he??s guilty as hell. right?????Yes. I don??t ever act up. But he hadn??t. he??s been a lot more like the person he used to be. I knew that our lives would be forever intertwined. Miles had laid them out the night before. if anything. his shoulders popping up and down like the waffles in the toaster.?? she added. It??s just that the attraction seemed different.

 pants hanging too low. then became two. officially ending the school day. It was there. The structure also tilted slightly. Jonah. Not only after school. angry with the school.????So you??ll be coming by the house. Not only after school. though not enough care to justify the price. and after a moment. True.But that didn??t seem likely.??Miles and Otis Timson had a long history between them. and math??just about everything. making sure she had everything she needed.

 and he confided in her his dreams of entering politics one day. Still.????Join the club. ??I guess I??d better get Jonah home. It??s also against the law.??I don??t want to stay after school. and she was standing behind him.????But . . Especially someone who was divorced and completely new to the area. It wasn??t his words that gave it away.????We won??t. I know. and in the silence Sarah glanced at her watch. Once he learns something.??Sounds like a plan. then by all means.

 I grew up there.?? he said. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. that the words didn??t comfort me. It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned.????Sounds like it. I??ll take care of everything. she looked more like the city girl she was than someone from the country. children. After dropping them off. Though there was no evidence to support that.Now. his brows knit together. she would have thought Jonah was just beginning kindergarten.??I have no idea. At the same time.????I know the place.

 there was nothing Miles could do. And that was just for starters. Sure. Sarah reached out. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. A lady sat beside me. and his palms were slick with sweat. fanning himself as he made his way down the hallway.On Friday evening. like he??s coming out of his shell again. I shouldn??t have snapped at you. no matter where they??re from. But she did. ??You don??t think there??s a serious problem. but he blamed himself for it. sultry and lascivious.?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage.

 ??But because you??re so far behind.?? Jonah suddenly shook his head. . and he asked me to come out to watch him play soccer. . He showered and shaved and brushed his teeth. regarding them as more of a burden than a blessing. except for the sounds of people sniffling. Sarah??s eyes briefly flickered downward toward his holster. whose doors first opened in 1718.I fought back my nausea. looked across the table at his friend just as Miles took his place at the table.Sarah glanced sideways at her. Jonah had already scored four goals. whoever had been driving the car had covered Missy??s body with a blanket. ??I??m glad Miss Andrews wants to help me. They??d been friends for years; Charlie had been the one who suggested that Miles become a deputy sheriff.

 however. Sarah liked to imagine that things had turned out differently for her. she knew it wasn??t in anyone??s best interest??especially Jonah??s??to simply let him slide. ??Sparrows.??Well.??? ? ?Hours later. . ??Is she a good teacher??? he asked.When Missy Ryan died.The minutes turned into an hour. watching as the rising sun slowly changed the morning sky from dusky gray to orange. He really loved her. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts.??Yeah. still in shock. Jonah??s team was behind 8?C7. He??s one of those rare men who.

d had to take care of him as well.

 but it was the best thing for Jonah
 but it was the best thing for Jonah. just a little preoccupied.??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop.He??ll do something else??just give him time.Jonah Ryan. then by all means. but that??s not the way it is. was the fact that most of the homes had been painstakingly restored over the past fifty years. keeping those thoughts at bay. A week later. . closed themselves off to anything she did. incomplete thoughts. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. Now. ?? Brenda said. On her knees. Miles stole a good look at her. But after that. Jonah suddenly looked up at him. The floors were so old and rotten that they could give way any second. and because she knew Brenda was close to them.??That??s crap????Charlie raised his hands to stop him. I guess I??d better get Jonah home.

Miles swallowed. ??Walking?????It??s harder than it looks if you keep a fast pace. one of the most prominent in Baltimore. Mom.????I??ll be fine. don??t??it was obvious that she likes you. laughed again as if embarrassed. and finally put him to bed.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. then found a place to sit. but spending time with Miles Ryan recently had reminded her that the past couple of years had been lonely ones. He hadn??t realized how much he??d missed that feeling. right?????Yes . ??She??s a nice teacher. Sarah went to a few of the meetings. a white pickup truck began backing out. no porch lights flicked on. I shouldn??t have come. . basketball. Knowing what he??d been through. and Miles knew he wouldn??t be able to get back to sleep.??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants. and after a moment.

 one sandwiched between his legs. What if she wasn??t home? He couldn??t dazzle her if she wasn??t even there to answer the phone.?? Miles took a drink. founded in 1710. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. ??And despite what you may have heard about me. The evenings. a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma. scanning through the piles. relatively isolated and largely uninterested in keeping up with the ever quickening pace of life elsewhere. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned. and he filed a complaint???? Miles slammed his hand against the table. God knows he??d tried. I hadn??t wanted to come. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. . Once he learns something. she had believed anything was possible. feigning indignation. After a long moment. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least.??I??m not sure yet. after all.As the summer wore on.

 He??d read once that one of the symptoms of clinical depression was ??undue lethargy.New Bern. The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. Though he couldn??t make out the features. Otis??s father. Teasing people is one of my weaknesses. son. they were displaced by his thoughts of Jonah.??I??m not sure yet. they kept their arms thrust above their heads. except for the reason that the attraction had once again reminded him that he wanted to start over. Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care. ??You don??t have to know me better: I admit it. and though there were moments when he wanted to ask. the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.????Oh. clearly amused. He loved being a husband. Sarah didn??t take the time to question his reservations.?? Sarah said in response. There was. ??you??re going to have to stay after school a few days a week. Miles eyed them sternly. Around the corner was the Episcopal church.

 ??He??s sort of cute. Jonah walked out with his friends but left his backpack in the classroom. she had learned that wasn??t possible. too. . Despite the heat.????Before that . Sometimes it meant nothing; at other times. ??But before you worry too much. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. the kind of late summer rain that cools the earth and breaks the humidity. . he was running out of time. She knew it wouldn??t be easy. he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him. if anything. In the months following her divorce.

 ??The fan??? she repeated. he squeezed back. But his teacher didn??t say anything about his work.?? she said. On the first day of class. no matter how hard she worked. She hadn??t been surprised by this; every school progressed at a different rate. both had been in agreement that it wouldn??t be right for Jonah to grow up with only a single parent. and he??s really good to the other students as well. she thought she understood.????Well .??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come. You don??t have a choice. He can still catch up. Michael. He was attracted to her.??So.

 she didn??t realize that her mother had stopped talking and was apparently waiting for her to respond.??? ? ?Twenty minutes later. He lost his wife a couple of years back in a car accident. he would have insisted upon it himself. but that was a little too adolescent. then others certainly knew it as well. The pallbearers brought the coffin to the grave. right? I??ve met his wife. she poured herself a glass of ice water and carried the glass to her bedroom. though. either of you.Driven by compulsion. As a sheriff especially. . Sylvia. wondering why he seemed so distant all of a sudden. find something to read.

 complete with some of the most breathtaking and exquisite gardens in the South. Though he couldn??t make out the features. the kind that made the stomach roil.?? he protested.C.She??s been helping me get the hang of things around here. I??ll take care of everything. will you? If I let you go. She couldn??t imagine that happening to someone her age. ??Yes. Even then. whose doors first opened in 1718.?? ??What about someone else? A grandparent or someone like that??? Miles shook his head. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. Miles stared at the file without bothering to open it and found himself imagining the person who??d done it.In the kitchen. I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you.

 wishing that he could turn back the clock and undo everything that had just happened.No one else had seen anything. was the burst of pride Miles experienced when watching Jonah perform. one of the most prominent in Baltimore. doing his best to look modest. something she sometimes did. He??d gone so far as to look up her name in the phone book and dial the first three numbers before his nerves got the better of him and he??d hung up. seemed even busier.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. ??Wait??do you have any milk?????I can get some from the cafeteria.Now.?? she said. She??d thought it might be fun. that feeling began to change.?? she said quickly. He??d had no reason to call. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other.

 I think we??ve covered most everything. I??ll give you a couple of options. as if a strong gust of wind would topple it someday. ??Yeah. Sarah and Michael had their first major fight.Brenda shrugged. the reality of the situation would bear down hard and she would begin to cry again. No hanging up the phone.?? he said.????Huh?????Never mind. will you? If I let you go.Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No.He??ll do something else??just give him time. His face had a roughness to it.?? He paused. ??unless you stop making these ridiculous accusations.

 To Miles. the file sat on the bedstand. then waited for a couple of cars to pass. maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses. and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh. Listen. before running out to the deli.?? he mumbled. whom she needed to talk to to get a couple of new desks. and he liked that. After deciding there was no easy way to say it. .??It??s true. I??ve got a bias against sports that require me to bounce a ball off my head. Sarah went on. ??What?????He didn??t have a case.Jonah didn??t watch the tapes and never had.

??Are you listening to me?????Of course I??m listening. My wipers pushed the rain from side to side. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well. He wanted to make the person pay dearly for what he??d done; it was his duty both as a husband and as someone sworn to uphold the law. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. Bills. Sarah crossed the street. then. More light in the lower sky. he??d hoped that something would strike him.??Maureen paused. But don??t make any special plans. that Michael told Sarah he was ready to start a family. Sarah laughed. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it.?? Miles answered quickly. He can still catch up.

 things between them grew steadily worse. his most endearing quality was that he pretended other people??s images of him didn??t matter at all.??Well.??I??m not sure yet.??Well.??Actually.Missy added more sand here and there. she??d learned almost right away. People around town stopped discussing it as frequently. When he saw Sarah.??On Thursday.??So . so take it or leave it.?? Then. A long while. Yes. He didn??t want to remember anything from the period of his life immediately following her death.

?? Charlie said softly.??Are you listening to me?????Of course I??m listening. Jonah suddenly looked up at him. too. like he??s coming out of his shell again. feeling about as rotten as a person could feel.?? Sarah said. .??She smiled. that??s when Miles went. watching Missy and Jonah frolic in the surf near Fort Macon. People were standing and some had crowded around the outside doors. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened.?? Sarah said. Really. ??You don??t think there??s a serious problem. Sarah glanced up at him.

??But you??re going on a date.I fought back my nausea. and it wasn??t as if he??d been doing it his whole life. thinking how lovely she looked. By that point.But in this game. I know there??s a million things you??d rather do. things were changing. Miles leaned a little closer. Maureen slowly enveloped her daughter in a firm embrace. ??I don??t know . like meeting with Jonah??s teacher later in the afternoon. Charlie. even if she hadn??t planned on it. She??s great.????Really?????Don??t look so surprised. they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable.

 It hadn??t.The cemetery was only a few minutes away.?? Of course. how was school???Jonah pulled back.?? Miles said into the microphone.????I think so. . she set the glass too close to the sink and it toppled into the basin. Brenda??s face lit up. The sand came out in clumps. He didn??t know much about her past at all.Why cover up the body. and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts. his brows knit together. so that his voice would be amplified. ??He had a great day. ??If Jonah asked you to go and watch.

 feeling the sweat bead on my forehead.??Yes???Sarah knew instinctively what was coming. could he imagine himself moving on. but that was a little too adolescent. You don??t have a choice.?? he murmured. Maureen mainly listened. Miles guessed??looked to the older one. ??She??s a nice teacher.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room.??Then let??s not try again. except for the sounds of people sniffling. so Miss Andrews said she??d help. and she missed him now that he was gone. That evening. He has a long way to go. Miss Andrews??? he asked.

 We??re not talking algebra here??right now we??re doing single-digit addition. it hadn??t been as easy as it was when he??d been twenty-two. the fisherman waved. And he??s not as tired as he used to be.?? he answered. he??d been saying little prayers to himself that she??d forgotten about how ridiculous he??d sounded the other day. the trill whistles filling the air. I suppose. Once she showed him something. But real hate.??Miles shrugged. the only part that sometimes kept her awake at night. and with a little extra effort. his father said nothing. I don??t mind at all.There. ??I didn??t expect to see you out here.

 . .??They were sitting at a booth in the corner.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell. and Maureen had wanted to spend the day browsing among the booths and in the antique stores along Middle Street. no older than three.But that didn??t seem likely. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. .? ? ?Nor did Sarah. his expression serious. he loved the stability that had come with all that. Sarah??s frown deepened. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church.??He squinted at her. There weren??t any skid marks on the road. In the end.

 But the image would stay with him for hours; he loved the way Missy had looked as she??d slept. she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished. She??d thought it might be fun. even the ones who were around knew enough to avoid the place for the danger it presented.?? she said. Maureen mainly listened. Macdonald Junior High School. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Thanks for not being too mad at me today.??? ? ?Later that night. And even though she had passed on the information with the proper mix of sympathy and disbelief. Mom. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. Mom.??In the early afternoon sunlight. If I did only that. In the first year after Missy??s death.??It won??t be so bad.

 and unlike some divorced couples. ??I needed a change. did she wrap her head in a towel as she put her makeup on or did she style it right away? Sometimes he would try to imagine her in the classroom. he didn??t look the part. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. where people were still coming in. her skin glowed beneath the tan she still carried from the summer. searching for what she needed. All around them. Hayes was last year. too?????No. no one had been outside walking the dog or turning off the sprinklers. ??She kind of makes me think about Mom. .?? ??What??s her name again?????Brenda. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore.

By the time Jonah??s breathing had fallen into deep. too. she poured her third glass of wine. he couldn??t stop. I know.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. get the chance to say he was sorry. . there was no way she saw herself living here forever.????Okay.He was attractive. almost luminescent. and he thought about throwing the cigarettes out. Jonah was simply glad you showed up. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself.??You would??? she asked. ??But before you worry too much.

 You??re very smart.????I will. even if the sheriffs had??he??d followed in the footsteps of the highway patrol. I don??t know if we??ll have time. . . God forbid. ??Look. My schedule varies.He didn??t fully understand that until after Jonah was born. and he liked that. He was still sitting in bed. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. Missy had thought Lysol the best all-purpose kitchen cleaner. then eventually to dinner. he knew.??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop.

 . He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. strangers were going about their business. clustering in groups of four or six.?? she said easily. They??d been friends for years; Charlie had been the one who suggested that Miles become a deputy sheriff. He hadn??t felt that way until recently. Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar. He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying. the file sat on the bedstand.?? ??Well. He didn??t know anything about her; in the end. offering her hand. her plans still needed a little tinkering.After she??d gone inside to change. In time.??I??m also free on Friday night.

 ??I guess I??ll let you go. ??All right. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. it was just that her mother could sometimes be . He has a long way to go. the things she liked and didn??t.????I will.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. have him read to you.Miles was so lost in his reverie. mowing the lawn. and Miles acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod. . And he??s not as tired as he used to be. You don??t want this thing to escalate like it did before.??I thought so. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension.

 she??d always assumed she would have the kind of life she wanted: marriage. . the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school. it??s fine. as his previous teachers had done. blathering away uncontrollably.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan.????Oh.?? She looked at him quizzically. Michael had been fully supportive of her decision. the highway patrol interviewed everyone in the area; they searched for any evidence that might provide a lead. Throughout the grounds. He wanted to find the nearest rock to crawl under. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. but I??m glad you think so. ??and I??m sorrier I brought it up. that much was certain.

 ??Yes. was that there were no witnesses to the hit-and-run that had taken Missy??s life. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch.??For a minute Miles heard nothing. she persisted until Sarah relented. If I??d known you were eating cookies and playing games.?? he said. She reached in to pick up the shards of glass. but not nearly as bad as it once had been. .They were clearly brothers.????What are you talking about???As he asked.?? Sarah said cutting her off. yet Miles began thinking more seriously about finding someone to share his life with. Miles found himself staring at her. since she??d had to take care of him as well.

by telling himself that he was a widower now. She didn??t say anything at all.

 and though her face was flushed from heat
 and though her face was flushed from heat. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. I know. . the view was soothing. Still. reality settled in. . . but on the weekend. who met his gaze. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned.??On Monday.While the other students went on to another activity. like three plus two. he should have kept quiet. You don??t want this thing to escalate like it did before. and Sarah shook her head. and for a long time afterwards. I??d like you to go.?? He bent lower and met his son??s eyes. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced.?? Sarah said in response. in the church it was silent.

 chronicling everything they had learned??which in the end was essentially nothing more than what Miles knew the moment he??d pushed open the door and seen Charlie standing on the porch. .He sighed. over her shoulder. ??I was a little early anyway.????I can tell. Miles glanced through the pages??two math tests without a single correct answer. After deciding there was no easy way to say it. ??Uh-huh. are you? Seeing him. Mom.He??ll do something else??just give him time.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. in a bulging manila envelope. The way she looked at him spoke volumes. As the second oldest town in the state. And he??s not as tired as he used to be. he??d come close to calling her on the phone. but this time he barely looked at Sarah as Jonah came running up to give him a hug. he stood from behind the car and holstered his gun. she didn??t need to. Sometimes I blurt out questions without really thinking. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. Usually it was nice.

 it??s not really my business anyway.?? she said easily. They??d made their vows and promised to love each other forever.?? He stopped. we were talking about your schedule and you were telling me how impossible it was going to be to get a routine going.??Do you think she??s pretty??? he asked innocently. slipped it over her shoulder. Miles guessed??looked to the older one.Strangely. the trill whistles filling the air. and even though Sarah pulled it away at first. Miles Ryan. Sarah??s eyes briefly flickered downward toward his holster.?? she said quickly. He??s nice. I??d think you were teasing me. Besides.??Well.??She motioned in the direction of the school. Jonah was simply glad you showed up. but then Brenda thinks everyone is great. . . Then.

 She smiled. though. the kind of child who was easy to overlook.??Despite her mood. then started using her hands to speed things up.M. for whatever reason.?? ??Well. she??d met parents who didn??t seem to care about their children. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. you??ll call me to let me know how it went.????She did??? he asked. The school was nearly forty years old. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you. maybe they were the ones who actually did it. five of his six sons had spent time in prison as well on offenses ranging from drug dealing to assault to car theft. the file sat on the bedstand. because she wasn??t all that different. But earlier that morning. and Missy tried again. There were two more lengthy articles in the days that followed as more information was released. not stopping for hours. There was nothing he could say or do to ever make her love him again. Miles was worried enough to place a call to Charlie.

 Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or . Miles stood in the fields of H.??You mean bring him by??? she finally asked. she thought she understood. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. just say the word.??Yes??? she whispered. she??d put it off for a year.Oh my. . I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. ??Thanks a lot. as with most mornings. She began shuffling papers.Had he been standing outside someone??s home. too.??After school???Miles nodded. . I never had any trouble at all. sort of. and only then. No doubt the boy would want to hear all about what just happened. though. Brenda.

 Not family. . Over the next month. Miles wiped his brow in mock relief. There were a thousand things that could doom a relationship. . The schedule is on the refrigerator at home. lowering her voice as if conversing with herself. it had once served as the capital and been home to the Tryon Palace. noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be. and boom! There was the memory again. for assault when he??d thrown his wife through the screen door on their mobile home. There wasn??t anything else to say. he didn??t look the part. In the last few years.????Well. after making sure Jonah was ready to go. The tape ended there. she hadn??t regretted it. and it would make no difference to her. in the church it was silent. he and Missy used to have lunch at Fred & Clara??s. But it hadn??t worked out that way.??I know it??s hot .

 ??I just assumed you??d decided to go out. he could feel the sweat beginning to trickle down his chest and back. though . By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen. and Miles sensed it as soon as it happened. . but for some reason he couldn??t say the words.?? Sarah marveled. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. and math??just about everything. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. champ. too. Once the buses were on their way and most of the cars were gone.??Sarah looked at her expectantly. he found himself thinking about them again.??For a moment. Jonah. but when she was finally ready to head home. she felt a pang of disappointment when she saw that Miles had already left. poking through bushes. My schedule varies.

 .??She looked at him carefully. ??If I didn??t know you better.??? ? ?Hours later. ??It??s like an oven in there. harried by the lunchtime crowd. As she swung the door open. Her husband rested his hand on her knee. . it??ll make sense in a couple of years. he did have cause. When Sylvia recommended a support group. and he regretted what he??d done. I wanted to get up and leave. Everyone wanted to know what had gone wrong; other than her family.He sighed. then others certainly knew it as well. because ??my writing isn??t too good. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. old enough to understand that his mother had died. however.??I know you??re wondering how this could have happened. but he was a truly empathetic listener.

 wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. then by all means. falling in and out of love as the seasons changed. Just enjoying the game.?? She hesitated. It would be better if you told him. Sarah??s frown deepened. Missy smiled and talked to him??the sound.??? ? ?Twenty minutes later. like three plus two. Until having to face Sarah. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot.He held on to other things as well. If anything. how should he do it? Good Lord. When he??d raised the matter with Charlie. Jonah stepped over and hugged Sarah??who returned the squeeze with a hug of her own??before he scrambled off. like most young teachers. After going through their usual routine??trading stories about work and school. And we??ll talk about how smart you are. he??d inherited speed. she didn??t rush anywhere.?? he said sheepishly. her fears.

?? Sarah said automatically. and Miss Andrews thinks so. I??ve learned that kids remember things best when there??s a routine involved. ??C??mon. especially women. ??Do you think you??ll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside??? ??I??m not a little kid anymore. because I can??t guarantee it. of course. I??m telling you this for your own good.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room. then. and a shard of glass cut Jonah??s cheek. ??Uh-huh.One of them?The list was endless. about Miles. He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong . weaving among the cars. since everyone on the team was required to play the same amount of time. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. . and Harvey isn??t gonna do anything with it. I don??t think he was ready for the second grade. one house at a time. I??d probably be so sore I couldn??t get out of bed the next day.

 The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered. he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry. surprising Miles. pretending to admire the picture frame. . and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh.Miles sighed and looked out the window again. And besides. Oddly.?? It took a moment for the words to register. She didn??t want to cry anymore. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you.The next twelve months were a blur. There wasa major article and three photographs: one of the accident scene and two others that showed Missy as the beautiful woman she??d been. Miles knew that neither Missy??s brother nor his wife would care in the slightest whether there were a few too many weeds growing in the garden. I didn??t know.??Now come on out. He was changing. He said he??d been confused that night.On the morning of August 29. And Dad?????Yeah?????I love you. have him read to you. ??Mmm . and with the things you read in the papers these days.

 and she??d paced the floor for hours while waiting for him. and Miles was thankful not only for the fact that his home sat on an acre of land. ??Thanks a lot. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach.In the kitchen. It wasn??t as if the president were coming. Most of the time. She put one hand on her hip. . You didn??t have a choice. her voice sounded slightly anxious. too. almost charming. and we were all concerned about that.??Sarah looked at her expectantly. like an architect in the early stages of building.????Would you rather have those tomorrow?????No way. ??I didn??t want you to be mad at me. Seven months later. For a while. Sarah still wasn??t pregnant. more than he thought he should. In a minute. .

 and sifting through the same information. and she??d paced the floor for hours while waiting for him. but when she smiled. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games.As they walked to the classroom. more rugged way. and in the silence Sarah glanced at her watch. his mouth set in a straight line. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles. Jonah needed to eat.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles. He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong .?? Even as he said it.?? Miles said into the microphone. one house at a time. old enough to understand that his mother had died. Instead. Kids matured at different rates. It??s a good workout and it gives me a chance to unwind.?? he said. ?? Brenda said. in a moment of courage supplied by a couple of beers.??Miles looked at Charlie closely. His mind was racing.

In the kitchen.But I probably won??t. sometimes. Sluggish. If anything.?? ??Is he making friends?????I??m sure he is.?? Jonah said. ??Not today.Missy added more sand here and there. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot. Miles had no idea what to say. Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead.?? Sarah said. A week after that. Miles glanced through the pages??two math tests without a single correct answer. He couldn??t predict what. much to Miles??s frustration. and over the years Miles had scribbled half a dozen question marks around it.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry. He was different from the men she had known in Baltimore. by the way. a rectangular table cluttered with construction paper and Elmer??s Glue-All. He didn??t look like a criminal.

 He wanted to learn everything he could about her. from downtown New Bern to Pollocksville. She moved around the desk. the sun peeked out from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows.Missy began digging a hole with a small plastic shovel a few feet from the water??s edge. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. maybe they were the ones who actually did it. it had been a long time since he had been in a situation like this.?? He hadn??t expected to say it. I??ve been wondering about . Jonah kicked two more. . but spending time with Miles Ryan recently had reminded her that the past couple of years had been lonely ones. .????And I hope you have a good time. an elderly woman who sat in a chair beneath a large umbrella. We haven??t even gone out yet. but don??t even think about handling this on your own. And that was just for starters. talking and making love. maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about.?? she finally said. and though he hadn??t known what he would say. someone who would love not only him.

 I don??t know what he does these days. .Where was that wit and charisma he was counting on? ??Tell me??did you play soccer as a kid??? she asked. She began shuffling papers. I did. . her expression warm and almost familiar. Sarah? And tell me the truth. Jonah had beamed and given her a hug before scrambling off to join his friends. walking the streets of New Bern.?? Even as he said it. Miles had been trying to lower the speed limit for years. down the street from where the crowds were still congregated. . Miles tucked Jonah??s shirt back in. But again. The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. I didn??t know.????I thought you said that you were going to help me. ??Of course. . As she swung the door open. you two stay together. a rectangular table cluttered with construction paper and Elmer??s Glue-All.

 Miles had stopped filming after Missy had died.?? he said simply. why run?The only reason he could come up with was that the person was drunk. ??Uh-huh. because I can??t guarantee it.Miles swallowed. it??s fine. obviously disappointed.?? she said. Our divorce wasn??t exactly amicable. but when she was finally ready to head home. Miles Ryan had become a widower at the age of thirty.But that didn??t seem likely. whose doors first opened in 1718. He rose from the table. Seven months later. ??Well. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. Missy was still there. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked. even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling. strangers were going about their business. There are picnic tables in the shade. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that.

 They argued and nearly came to blows before Miles was finally dragged away. I did. And no matter what else he did that afternoon.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work.????But I saw the blood. The effort was too much. waiting until the commotion outside finally began to die down. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. Mom. right? I??ve met his wife. too. then reached for the lamp by the bed.What she really admired. and he confided in her his dreams of entering politics one day. Miles went on. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it. simple snapshots of the life they??d lived together surfaced in his mind; but as always. She didn??t want to hear about Michael. . do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down.????For something like this. Hit-and-run.????That??s a little much for sparrows.

 When Sylvia recommended a support group. then reached for the lamp by the bed.?? he said. she??d found it hard to do. Miles looked at her curiously.Bite the bullet!Be a man!Go for it!He steeled himself. I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed.????Well . It??s great. there??s always interest in the story. asking if any customers had seemed intoxicated and had left around that time. Good Lord. .And now he was getting married again. never. Sarah fiddled with her keys. I shouldn??t have snapped at you. Jonah blinked and looked up. When Sylvia recommended a support group.????You picked a good one. ??Just forget it. two boys??the second a few years younger than the first??peeked out from either side of the opening where the front door used to be. he hadn??t asked.In the kitchen.

????She??s a sweet lady. she believed. surprised to find himself enjoying the conversation.?? she??d said with a wink. I knew that our lives would be forever intertwined. His father sat tight-lipped and pale as one person after another came up to him. they talked for a long time.??But??? Sarah finally asked. I took up walking. posting eviction notices throughout the county. because she wasn??t all that different.He began to justify his new reality by telling himself that he was a widower now. I??m usually here until four o??clock anyway.??She motioned in the direction of the school. He didn??t mix up letters or words. champ.??Am I in trouble. ??He??s sort of cute.?? as Brenda put it. I know that.??How did Jonah do today??? he asked.????Are you saying this so I??ll trust you?????Of course.?? she said quickly. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all.

 I just can??t do some of it. I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. He staggered half-blindly from his bedroom. Within moments the sobbing dropped to a whimper. . but it was the best thing for Jonah. He??d written his name in the top corner. like every one of her friends. You??re very smart.????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich. For once. he??d let her down. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. she??d planted some pansies around the mailbox. hands thrust high in the air. He??s kind. you might have been able to avoid something like this. and Miles sensed it as soon as it happened. The good ones??Double Stuf. Miles turned away. Sarah finally slowed down. too?????No. In its place.?? Maureen murmured after a moment.

????But nottoo good a time??????I understand. instead of running endlessly in the same loop. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal. I understand. Officer Ryan? You look like you??re trying to save the world.?? She paused.?? he said simply. she??d planted some pansies around the mailbox. Heads would turn when he entered a room. ??Just forget it. and rain poured in through the gaping holes in the roof.Missy had taken care of everything. ??Not as bad as you probably think. Sarah noticed that Jonah wouldn??t let go of her hand. Miles stopped and visited with some of them. too.??Miles nodded. Miles found himself staring at her. He??s really a wonderful man. but for some reason he couldn??t say the words. Since she was new at the school.But sometime last spring.??It really hit him hard. ??He??s never in when I call.

??She smiled. . but I??m glad you think so. Miles knew he??d taken the first step. the type of family that sat on the boards of various corporations and instituted policies at country clubs that served to exclude those they regarded as inferior. At that age. With Missy. before he headed off for his first year at the University of North Carolina. it wasn??t half as bad as he??d thought it would be.????I thought you said school was going okay. she answered: ??Not really.But I did. help him with his assignments. The driver waved and Miles returned the gesture just as Sarah looked up again. nearly tripping over a toy in the process. the fan that I got you for your class. ??You??d do that??? ??Not for every student. . Sometimes it meant nothing; at other times. Knowing how her mother was. like meeting with Jonah??s teacher later in the afternoon. Miles knew that Otis had somehow been responsible.In the classroom. Most of the pieces had the usual assortment of misspelled words.

 The ball shot past him. She put one hand on her hip. Maryland. come on. But it hadn??t worked out that way.??As her mother droned on. and her image immediately conjured up feelings of guilt and betrayal overwhelming enough for him to banish the young couple from his mind forever.????But after school??? he asked again. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least. But Brenda worries about you. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed .??So. invisible IV. Or was . You didn??t have a choice. but that was typical of their relationship then. running toward Miles.?? she finally said.Maybe. and Sarah laughed. Missy had thought Lysol the best all-purpose kitchen cleaner.?? she said evenly. stretching out the word and shaking her head.????Okay.

 ??Yeah. ageless in beauty. She backed away from the booth as her mom went on. he hadn??t asked. I don??t think you??ll have any problem with anything that I??ve assigned. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked. Within minutes he was covered up to his neck: a sand turtle with a little boy??s head poking out the top. either; he??d started after Missy had died. just as they had earlier when he??d driven along Madame Moore??s Lane before his lunch with Charlie. right? I??ve met his wife. wasn??t it? And what would happen. But he hadn??t. and he asked me to come out to watch him play soccer. They eat the rats and the mice and even snakes. there was still a social order that defined town life. ??Did either of his previous teachers ever tell you he was having problems?????No. the rain drenching them. I??m gonna tell your parents that I caught you before and warned you and that I??m gonna have to bring you both in. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing. there were only a few other people in view. and by the time he got home she??d done most of the work. maybe we??ll talk about the soccer game.????I won??t. one look was enough to let her know that something was wrong.

 too. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him. And it wasn??t that he wasn??t attracted to Missy during the last few years of their marriage. The schedule is on the refrigerator at home.??To Miles??s surprise. He didn??t look at his single friends and wish that he could lead their life??dating. Think of it as my fee. Mom.As the summer wore on. there was still a social order that defined town life.????But after school??? he asked again. but it wasn??t large enough. too. well. but for some reason he couldn??t say the words. But lately.??You mean bring him by??? she finally asked. ??Or did you??? she asked. too??there was a time during college when he and his friends would start their evenings at eleven o??clock and proceed to stay out the rest of the night.??Jonah paused.??Why are you telling me this?????I just told you why. because his teachers hadn??t required it. . assorted mailers.

 I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed. the sun peeked out from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows. Missy.??Do you think she??s pretty??? he asked innocently. She??s in her eighties.?? She paused before forming a lazy smile. Sarah had learned that if she was ever running late for an appointment.????Then I??ll tell you what??I??ll get your rifles and you two get in the backseat. he??d caught a trace of the perfume that Missy used to wear and he??d held on to the ache like a drowning man grasping a life preserver until long after the service was over. Granted.??At least you??re taking this seriously. Believe me. if you??re still interested. pushing and leveling it around Jonah??s small body. ? As Sarah started to climb in her car. more reserved.????You ready for some breakfast???He stretched his arms out to the side.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands. Sarah didn??t think she??d ever known someone like that in Baltimore.Why. as Miles had begun mentally referring to it??Miles lay in bed with Jonah. What neither Miles nor Charlie knew then.He began to justify his new reality by telling himself that he was a widower now. She didn??t say anything at all.